There's No Trade Market For Michael Vick

by Dave Choate on Feb 15, 2009 8:00 AM EST in Angry Rant

Let's face it, gentlemen. Michael Vick is going to be released.

As noted by tom slick, who took a break from racing blimps to come inform us of the news, the Falcons are the Falcons are shopping Vick. The problem is that nobody is biting, with the Bucs and Lions among the teams who have already gone way out of their way to disavow any interest in the former Falcon quarterback. You may say to me, "Dave, put down your bottle. Those are only two teams." Guess what? Nobody's going to bite on this.

If you're a team that could use a dynamic playmaker, perhaps in the suddenly popular Wildcat formation, you may be tempted to make a play for Vick. Then again, if you're also aware that the Falcons are almost guaranteed to release him at some point in the future, you're not going to be stupid enough to give away decent draft picks for that guy. Our only hope is that the Raiders or the Redskins, who have two of the most trigger-happy owners in sports, decide it is worth it to throw some conditional picks at us.

I'd be very happy if we managed to get his contract off the books and actually get something in return, especially considering it wasn't that long ago that he was playing the torpedo to our battleship. It's not a fun problem to have, and I guess we have to hope that someone will want to roll the dice on a guy who mixes incredible potential with equally incredible off-the-field troubles. I'm pretty convinced the Falcons will release Vick before we ever get something for him, though.

Thoughts?

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Comments

No one is going to touch him

I think that even when released, Vick will have a hard time finding a home in this stricter, fine-happy league. It’s going to take a long time to forget what he did and I don’t see Goodell immediately reinstating him either.

I personally believe it’ll be 2010 or later if Vick gets a chance to play again. And that’s a strong if. I do believe that the CFL won’t deny him a chance to play.

"If the Falcons ever manage to win a Super Bowl in my lifetime, I'll french kiss a toilet." - a friend.

by Adam Schultz on Feb 15, 2009 9:46 AM EST reply actions

Not sure if he's untouchable...

Agree that the Falcons will indeed release Vick IF they can’t trade his rights, they have no financial alternative. However, if a suitor can obtain his rights in exchange for, say, a late draft pick, they’d be crazy NOT to given the alternative of competing for his services in free agency. As much as I loathe the man, he is undeniably talented.

From the Falcons’ POV, even getting a 7th rounder is preferable to getting nothing for him. IMHO the team will eventually work out a trade with someone. There’s been substantial chatter about Vick being a good fit for Oakland or Seattle. I concur that it will be 2010 at the earliest, Goodell’s not going to reinstate him immediately. By the way, did everyone hear that Goodell took a pay cut? The man’s truly got balls, I wish the Wall Street types would take a cue from him.

Hope everyone’s enjoying their offseason. I didn’t think I’d be posting here for a while (during MY offseason) until this Vick news grabs me by the emotional short hairs. As Silvio Dante would say, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” Cheers, y’all!

by tom slick on Feb 15, 2009 9:26 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know

There might be more of a market than you think. Besides, if a team doesn’t want to get into a bidding war once he’s released, it’d be prudent to pick him up now (if you can do it cheaply).

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Feb 15, 2009 11:16 AM EST reply actions

Nobody is going to trade anything for him when...

they can just wait until he is inevitably released. Then they could negotiate behind the scenes and see how the fan base reacts to the news ‘leaks’. Me personally, I think he should get a chance to return to the NFL. The whole point of jail is to repay your debt to society and he will have done that. I’m sure a lot of animal lovers will disagree with my opinion but that’s how I feel in this case. I doubt Carolina could stomach the risk of signing him but I bet the Raiders or Cowboys might give him a shot. I hope someone does as I would be curious to see how he does. One aspect the animal lovers forget is that Vick at this point could provide a positive message in the battle against animal cruelty. I’m sure the dog-fighting is still going on somewhere.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Feb 15, 2009 11:18 AM EST reply actions

Waiting until he is released ...

means you might get into a bidding war w/ other teams. It makes sense that a smaller-market team would give us something</em, in lieu of having to compete for Ron Mexico’s services.

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Feb 15, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

(wow ... the editing got completely screwed up on that post)

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Feb 15, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

Is this possible

Can the falcons work a contract reconstruction with Mike Vick to sweeten up a trade deal?

The main problem with trading Vick now is that he’d be making starting QB type of cash.

by LA26 on Feb 17, 2009 9:00 AM EST reply actions

Thank you!

This is what everyone is forgetting about when talking about trading Michael Vick. The balance of his contract (according to the AJC) is 5 yrs, $45.11M. In 2009, in all likelihood when he’ll be suspended, he’ll receive (and have a cap charge of) $9M in base salary, with an additional $6.43M in bonuses.

He’s not getting traded. Not at that money.

by BigManChili on Feb 17, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions